2026 Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
Industrial Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for industrial engineering students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Industrial Engineering in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the industrial engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Industrial Engineering
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best school in the country for a degree in industrial engineering. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 87 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $73,777. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $22,802 in student loans.
More information about a degree in industrial engineering from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Iowa State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best industrial engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 96 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $94,216 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
More information about a degree in industrial engineering from Iowa State University
Students looking for a strong industrial engineering program will find one at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $79,894 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,512.
More information about a degree in industrial engineering from University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of Iowa came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best industrial engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from University Of Iowa earn around $75,699 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,540 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong industrial engineering program will find one at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #5. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. University Of Central Missouri graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $45,496 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,304.
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Kansas State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. Kansas State University awarded about 55 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from Kansas State University earn around $77,724 in the first couple years of their career. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full industrial engineering program report for Kansas State University
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best industrial engineering schools. This large public university is located in the city of Duluth. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 15 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $77,781. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $24,185 in student loans.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at University Of Minnesota Duluth
Wichita State University earned the #8 position for industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wichita State University awarded about 137 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Industrial Engineering graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $49,278 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete this degree.
Get the full industrial engineering details for Wichita State University
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earned the #9 position for industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology awarded about 42 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Industrial Engineering graduates of South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earn a median of $70,216 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #10 for industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Industrial Engineering graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $68,873 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at North Dakota State University Main Campus
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
